by BA Tortuga
“Of course. Anything. Is he well?”
“Tired with a sore paw, but fine.”
“Oh, good. He’s not at all what I expected.”
“No?” Mai tilted his head. “What did you think?”
“I expected him to be…deformed? Ragged? He left the pack.”
“They kicked him out.” Mai held back his rage since it wasn’t directed at Halian.
“Oh. Still, I didn’t know you could make a life outside. It’s good to know.” Halian looked…hopeful.
“It is.”
Nathan pulled up outside, gravel flying when his truck slid to a stop. Mai chuckled. Silly bear. Thank the moon for him, too. Ashkii needed good friends and so did Maicoh.
“Where is the little wolf?” Nathan asked from the porch, not even pretending to hide his curiosity.
“Am I that little?” Halian whispered.
Mai chuckled. “You’re young. He’s right here, Nathan.”
The huge bear looked around him, nostrils flaring madly as he scented Halian. The kid was tossing out pheromones at an insane rate, so Mai couldn’t blame Nathan at all.
“I brought chili.” Nathan’s voice was nearly a growl.
Mai glanced at him, raising a brow. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to take it inside?” Halian was so good, so careful not to make eye contact.
“Sure.” Mai looked at Nathan again. “Nathan?”
Nathan walked right over to Halian and put his nose against Halian’s neck.
Awkward.
Halian went stiff, swallowing over and over, fingers spread wide. He shook a bit, too, his muscles quaking. Nathan made this amazing sound, very bearlike for a human body, and lifted his head to nuzzle Halian’s cheeks in turn. “Welcome.”
“Thank you…” Halian vibrated like a tuning fork, gaze clinging to Nathan as if the big bear was a second sunrise.
“So, Nathan. What kind of soup?” Mai needed to break the tension.
“Chili. Beans. Beef. Spice. Yum.” Nathan’s gaze was fastened to Mai’s pack mate, unwavering.
“Well, Halian can take it while you stop in and see Ash.”
“Of course. Yes. I will.” Halian took the pot, almost running off.
Mai went to Nathan, poking that wide chest with one finger when they stood toe-to-toe. “Don’t hurt him. He’s been cowed enough.”
“Hurt him? Why would I do that?”
“I don’t think you will. I just needed to tell you. He’s like Ash used to be.” Used to be. His Ash, willing to fight for him.
“He’s not like Ash.” Nathan’s dark eyes seemed to clear, and the big bear shook his head. “How’s he doing?”
“Ash? Sleeping. I thought I’d get you to check on him, just to make sure I did a good job on his ankle. You know healing.” Mai was more than willing to give Nathan his props.
“I do. Should I wait until he’s up and moving?”
“No, go ahead. If he sleeps through it, so much the better.”
“Sure. I’ll be right back.” For a huge guy, Nathan moved silently. The idea reminded Mai that, ultimately, bears were predators. Even the gentlest ones.
He headed into the kitchen where Halian carefully heated the chili on the stove.
“Are you all right?” Mai asked, putting a hand on Halian’s shoulder. The wee one trembled.
“I am. That was…weird.”
“Was it?” Mai stifled a grin, even though Halian carefully avoided looking at him.
“Yeah. A little. Are…are you going to send me away?”
“No.” Mai squeezed, reassuring. Never. “No, you can stay here, like I said. Maybe with Nathan.”
“The bear? He…he doesn’t seem very safe.”
Nathan? Nonsense. The man was gentle, warm. Maybe a little intense about Halian, but hey. Who was Mai to deny hormones? “He’s a wonderful guy. I promise. Way nicer than the raven or the cougar.”
“Uh. Is that normal? So many shifters together?”
“No.” Mai sniffed the soup. Nice. “This is sort of like a dimensional eddy in the river.”
“Oh.” As if the kid understood that little burst of existential weirdness. “Can they find me here?”
“I have no idea. You found me, but you needed to.” Who knew how this worked? Maybe they could take Halian to Sophia, the wise old owl, at some point. “It doesn’t matter if the pack does find you. You’re my pack now, understood? Under our protection.”
Halian’s face changed, his hope a lovely thing to behold. “Yours and Ash’s. I like that.”
“Yes.” Mai felt a swell of pure power, a deep, primal energy. His pack. Mai had never hoped to have such a thing, not once he’d realized his true mate was a man. He fought the urge to shift, to howl. Nathan was here. Ashkii was hurt, and the noise would draw him from the healing sleep.
“He’s fine. You did well.” Nathan walked into the kitchen then held out a hand to Halian. “Sorry about that before. Nathan.”
“Halian.”
Nathan’s hand wrapped around Halian’s, swallowed it. “Nice to meet you. My sniffer gets the best of me sometimes. The soup doing okay?”
“It smells amazing. So rich.” Halian was almost wagging.
“Thanks. I love soup.”
Mai grinned. “Almost as much as he likes bread with honey.”
Nathan groaned. “I love bread with honey. And tea. Tea with honey.”
Grizzlies weren’t big on the subtle hint thing. A glance at Halian told Mai the young wolf was fascinated with Nathan’s moaning and lip licking, though.
“Would you make Nathan a cup of tea, Halian? Double honey.”
“Sure.” Halian moved around them, opening cabinets and finding tea, honey, and cups. Such a good wolf.
Nathan settled in the breakfast nook, eyes on Halian, and Mai wandered over to peer in at Ashkii. His mate slept on, but the sleep was healing things up, so Mai couldn’t complain.
The scent of Ashkii in his bed amazed him and made him ache. He almost moaned, almost reached for Ash, but Nathan had brought soup, and Mai expected a marmot or raven at any moment. Possibly a puma.
Bright green eyes popped open. “Maicoh.”
“My Ash. There you are. Nathan is here.” Mai let himself reach out and touch that dear face.
“I smell his chili.” Ash nuzzled in, kissing Mai’s palm.
“He checked in on you. He’s, uh, interested in Halian.” That was putting it mildly.
“Really? Neat.” Ash didn’t seem worried at all.
“Mmm. Sniffed him in a mate sort of way.” Mai gave up resisting and crawled into bed with his lover.
“Nathan needs a good mate.” His Ash relaxed immediately, pressing close to him.
“Does he? He seems like a mother hen.”
“Like Halian doesn’t need a little mothering, someone to focus on him.”
Okay, Ash had a point. Halian needed someone to love on him. “He’s pack now. I told him we’d help if the old pack comes looking.”
Ash nodded. “I won’t let anyone hurt us.”
Us. His mate. Fuck, he was proud. Ash had come into his own, and Mai wanted to reward him with kisses, with touches.
Please. Ash lifted his face and offered his lips.
Mai kissed that amazing mouth, loving how Ash tasted. Oh, he would never tire of this. Thank the moon that her light had led him here, to his Ashkii. He kissed more deeply, tongue pushing between Ash’s lips. His lover tasted like the river itself. Natural. Wonderful. He licked Ash’s lower lip, luxuriating in touch. Ashkii wrapped one hand around his shoulder, holding on to him.
“Tell me if anything hurts.” Mai wouldn’t harm Ash, not for the world.
“I will. It doesn’t.”
“I’ll be gentle.” He stroked Ash’s chest, and he heard the door click closed when Nathan led Halian outside.
“Just be you, mate. Just be you,” Ash said.
�
��Mmm. Ash.” He took a kiss, long and slow. He felt a wash of pure joy, better than the moon, better than the water, surrounding him. Mai licked Ash’s lower lip then nipped at it. Ash’s moan was like a song, ringing out without a hint of timidity. No, those lean hands gripped his shoulders, holding him close, demanding more. His mate was right there, swamping him with hunger. They kissed again, the contact heating Mai’s blood and hardening his cock. Ash moaned for him, fingers teasing along Mai’s shaft, testing him.
“Yes, touch me.”
“I’m good at that. Touching you.”
“No one has ever been allowed but you. Not this way.” He arched, letting Ash see his need.
“Even when I left?”
“Even then. They tried, baby. No one was you.” He pushed hard against Ash, avoiding that sore ankle but rubbing them together all along their bodies.
“No one. I ached for you.”
“Aching now, too.” Mai’s cock wanted all sorts of things.
That made Ashkii laugh, and his callused thumb pressed against the slit of Mai’s cock.
“Fuck, yes. Baby. Please.” Mai loved how good it felt to let go and allow Ash to give him pleasure. He spread wide, offering his belly, his balls. No one had ever loved him like Ash.
Ash touched Mai all over, stroking, tugging the short hairs around the base of his cock. Oh, that almost made him wiggle. Good thing he was an Alpha who didn’t wiggle, right?
He was an Alpha. How screwed up was that?
“My Alpha.”
Mai smiled for Ash then pushed over to kiss him again. Yours.
Ashkii pressed against him, thigh sliding up between Mai’s.
Mai rocked, his world tilting when the friction became just right. There was a hint of ache, heat and amazing, perfect pressure. He moaned, the sound verging on a howl.
Ashkii nodded. “There. There. There.” The repeated word was like a hymn.
“Yes. Just like that.” Mai wasn’t as coherent as he wanted to be; he wanted to tell Ash everything. Ash rubbed their noses together then bit Mai’s bottom lip.
Mai grunted, eyes going wide. His balls had drawn up so tight they almost hurt.
He grabbed his mate, bore down on the lean-muscled thigh. He growled, his need rising along his spine to burst in his brain, and he came hard, his breath huffing out of him.
Ashkii chuckled for him then rubbed the seed into his skin. “I won that one.”
“Are we competing?” Mai slid to one side, hand on Ash’s cock. He gave as good as he got.
“Competing? No. Racing.”
“Ah. Well, it’s your turn now, baby. I want to see you come. Smell it.”
“Mmm. Yes. Yes, I think that’s a fabulous idea.” His Ashkii had found a place, he thought. He’d won a battle inside himself.
God, Mai was proud. He stroked harder, faster, demanding Ash’s completion. Ashkii arched, and Mai reached between them, easing one finger into his lover’s ass. He might not be as fast, but he was thorough.
“Oh.” That sound was pure need.
“Yes, love. Oh, my Ash.” He pushed that finger deep, wanting Ash to feel him. He pegged Ash’s gland, over and over, making his lover writhe, making him beg.
Now, it was his turn.
Ashkii bared his teeth, eyes glowing bright green.
“Uh-huh. Baby. So tight and hot inside. Love you so much.” Mai was babbling, but that was okay. Ash deserved to know how perfect it was.
He rubbed that fine, long cock with his other hand, thumb sliding against the slit.
Ash’s lips parted, the look on his face suddenly feral.
“Uh-huh. Take it, baby. Take what you need,” Mai said, watching Ash’s every move. Ash drove up into his hand, down onto his fingers, working toward his pleasure. This was no passive wolf allowing Mai to take him. This was a man who knew what he wanted.
This was Mai’s partner. His mate. His Ashkii.
Mai pushed harder, wanting Ash to come for him, wanting to rest together.
He pushed hard against Ashkii’s slit, rubbing in, teasing with his nail, and Ash threw his head back, screamed. Spunk poured out of his cock, and that tight hole clamped down around Mai’s fingers. So perfect. So beautiful.
He sang softly, crooning in the language of the moon, of the people. Their lineage was complicated, but Mai knew they could use all the old ways to make their new pack a success. Ashkii’s voice joined his, softer, so clear.
Mai leaned down to rest his forehead against Ash’s. “I love you, Ash. So glad I found you.”
“Are you? For sure?” He got a quick, searching look. “I don’t have much, but I’ll share my tips.”
“I have some saved, and I can sell your art for what it’s really worth.” He nuzzled Ash’s nose. “Like I said before, this is a good place.”
“It is. It’s home.”
“Yes. Our side of the river.” The pack might come, but Maicoh dared them to take on his new little family.
Epilogue
“Come on, you coward.” Ashkii panted, entire body wanting to wag. “Come play in the river with me.” He had a two-man kayak, and they were losing summer. Soon, it would be too cold to go.
Maicoh snorted. “Rocks. Cold water. Tiny boat. Tell me again why this is better than having sex?”
“You haven’t given me a good reason not to go…” This was fun, poking the Alpha.
“No?” Mai stood, rolling up in a smooth, sexy motion. “Maybe I should.”
Oh. Oh, pretty. Ash panted happily, cock filling. “You think you have it in you?”
“Mmm-hmm. Soon, I’ll have it in you.”
“Going to get the boat ready…” Ash dared to turn his back.
Mai pounced on him, one arm around his chest as they fell, the other cushioning their drop to the floor. Mai’s heavy cock pressed against Ash’s ass, making a wonderful promise. Ash fought a shiver, wanting the chase to last a little longer.
He scrambled out from beneath Mai, wiggling just enough to cause them both to moan.
“Be good, mate.”
Mai pushed one hand beneath him, fingers cupping his cock. “I am being good. Very good.”
“Are you sure?” Ash’s hips rolled, driving into Maicoh’s palm.
“I am. Feel how good I can be?” Mai squeezed then used his other big hand to smack Ash’s ass.
“Oh…” Ash moaned then shook his head. “Maybe, I missed it.”
“Little tease.” Maicoh’s voice sounded like the best kind of growl. “I’ll give it to you again, just in case, hmm?”
Mai rubbed and slapped, giving him the most amazing sensations.
Ash howled softly, his eyes rolling back up into his head. Yeah, someone was being such a good Alpha. Rafting? What was that?
The river would wait.
The world would wait. Even their little pack, which was settling into an amazing pattern of care, would wait.
This was his mate.
This was his life.
About the Author
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery ménages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
BA loves to talk to her readers and can be found at http://batortuga.com/.
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